6/28/07

Let me put this simply... Resident Evil 4 is still an incredible game. I originally played this game on the Cube when it was first released and managed to beat the game 4 1/2 times. That sounds like a lot for a typical game yeah? But not for this one, the game is much different in it's design. The game dangles new weapons and modes in front of you so you're not just playing through the game another time for the sake of having fun, but for the sake of getting money to purchase newly unlocked weapons. I actually remember playing through the game for the 4th time simply because the massive magnum at the end cost a million pesetas (RE4 currency). After I unlocked that wonderful weapon I played through the game about halfway another time and understood at that point there was no one who could even touch me. How could they with a magnum that killed everything in one shot?

With the success of the Wii the developer of RE4, Capcom, decided to remap the controls to the Wiimote and re-release the game with all of the exclusive PS2-extras (about another 5-6 hours of gaming). At first I was a little skeptical to buy a game that I still owned on the Cube and had beaten 4 1/2 times before just for some new controls and a few more hours of gameplay. The price is $29.99 if you buy it now so I thought to myself, "you can hold off until the game drops down in price." Well I managed to find the game at a discounted price so I had to take advantage of the opportunity. Let me just say I am extremely glad I made that choice because this game is still awesome. The new controls make the game all the better, literally shaking enemies off of Leon (main character), aiming with the IR-sensor, and slicing my knife with a short Wiimote slash all feel just great.

The game feels so fresh, and for a game I've played as much as I have, that's saying something. Having never unlocked the PS2-extras I also now have something to aim for, something to unlock again. The graphics may be unchanged, aside from 16:9 and progressive scan modes, but with my new TV it looks better to me. I could go on and on about the greatness of this game but I will have to let you try it and see for yourself. Get this game, or borrow it from a friend, if you had any interest or have ever played the game in the past.

Still don't believe me, check out its awards:

2004 IGN Best of E3 AwardsGameCube Best Action GameBest GraphicsBest SoundTechnological ExcellenceGame of the Show2005 CESA Game AwardsPrize of Excellence2005 Spike TV's Video Game AwardsBest GraphicsGame of the YearIGN Best of 2005GameCube Best Action GameBest Graphics TechnologyBest Artistic DesignBest Original ScoreBest Use of SoundGame of the Year Runner UpIGN Best of 2005 Readers' ChoiceGameCube Best Action GameBest Graphics Technology OverallGame of the Year2006 IGNRanked #1 on "Reader's Top 99 Games"2005 Golden Joystick AwardsGameCube Game of the YearEditor's Game of the Year2005 GameSpot Best of 2005Best Action Adventure GameMost Improved SequelGameCube Game of the YearGame of the Year 2005 (GameCube Version)2005 GameSpot Reader's ChoiceBest Action-Adventure GameGameCube Game of the YearGame of the Year 2005GameSpy Best of 2005Best GameCube Action TitleGameCube Game of the Year2005 Edge magazine AwardsBest Game Of 2005Telewest Shiny Awards Games DigestGame Of The Year 20052005 Nintendo Power AwardsGame of the Year (Staff and Readers)Best Graphics (Staff and Readers)Best Storyline (Staff and Readers)2005 X-PlayBest Action Adventure Game of 2005Game of the Year 2005Ranked #1 in the "Top 10 GameCube Games"Ranked #4 in the "Top Ten Scariest Games of All Time"Five-out-of-Five (GameCube version)Five-out-of-Five (PlayStation 2 version)GameFAQs 2005's BestBest GameCube GameGame of the YearGameFAQs Tenth Anniversary ContestRanked #14 on "Best Games Ever"2005 Game InformerGame of the Year2005 MetacriticPlayStation 2 Game of the YearGameCube Game of the Year2005 Play MagazineEditor's Choice Game of the YearBest Graphics2005 EGM MagazineGame of the Year2005 Games Master's Gaming AwardsGame of the YearGameCube Game of the Year2005 GamePro Magazine Editor's ChoiceGame of the YearBest Action-Adventure2005 UGO.comGame of the Year2005 Game RevolutionGame of the Year2005 Blender Magazine's Reader's PollGame of the Year2005 NGC MagazineGame of the Year2005 1UP AwardsGame of the YearBest Action Game2005 GAMEGame of the YearPeople's Choice2005 Gamefly Q Awards FavoriteGame of the YearGameCube Game of the Year2005 Gamecentral's (UK)Game of the YearViewers' Game of the Year (both PS2 and GameCube)2005 "Nintendo Power Awards"Game of the Year - GCNBest Graphics - GCNBest Sound / Voice ActingBest Adventure GameGame of the Year (Overall)2005 Nintendo Power "NP Top 200"Ranked #2Gaming Target52 Games From 2005 We'd Still Be Playing2006 Famitsu2005 Game of the Year (tied with Kingdom Hearts II)2006 GameSpyRanked #1 on "Top 25 GameCube Games of All Time"2006 PSM10Runner up for "Game of the Year"Best Graphics2006 IGNRanked #3 on "Readers' Choice 2006 - The Top 100 Games Ever"

Not just awesome, but totally deserved. And some of the other games it beat out that year makes it even more impressive. The only award it didn't win was Game of the Year from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) which is basically the Oscars of gaming. The reason for RE4 not beating God of War was because Capcom isn't a member of that academy, so they can't win. The director of God of War when interviewed about the award thanked Capcom for not entering. Pretty funny stuff.